Positive interactions
Sunday, March 27, 2011 at 06:37PM Gary Hartzell reminds us that often the only thing that principals learn about libraries while getting their administrative degrees is about handling book challenges. In other words, libraries = problems. Unfortunately, the negative connotation probably continues for too many principals.
What does your principal hear from you? Complaints about too few resources? Dealings with difficult kids? Teachers not cooperating? Technical problems? Others wanting to you use "your" space?
I know as a supervisor I am expected to be a problem-solver. It's a job I relish and enjoy. But I also know the thrill of hearing the positives as well. What have you shared of a positive nature with your principal lately - that's personal, concrete and good for students and staff?
And do our positive interactions extend to parents? Leigh Ann Jones at Shelf Consumed suggests a simple thing librarians can do to build a positive relationship with parents - call one each day with good things to say about working with their child in the library. Wow. What powerful idea. (Read her post!)
A few years back I wrote a column about the Power of Parents. While it might have had a good idea or two in it, Leigh Ann's suggestion trumps any advice I gave.
If we don't have parents understanding, appreciating and backing our library programs, I really and truly believe we are sunk as a profession.
Call a mom or dad today. And relay a positive story to your boss.
Reader Comments (5)
Doug, thanks for reminding us that our principals are key in advocating for our libraries. I appreciate the kind words in regard to ShelfConsumed as well!
Doug, you have done it again! I thank you for the reminder that our principal is the first person we need to collaborate with each and everyday. We need to provide our principal a "silver bullet" about the importance our the Library Media Program. We need to make certain they KNOW-the impact we have on students. I am thankful everyday for my Principal.
I am sending you a copy of my month report. Oh yes, I have started calling home about students that are doing stellar work!
Hi Sally,
Your message and phone call made MY day. I'da called you back but I'm in Rio de Janiero right now.
Too many of us rely on that annual report when small daily doses of good news are probably more effective in the long run!
All the best,
Doug
Dear Doug,
I am among the many fortunate librarians that work in Frisco ISD with Dr. Leigh Ann Jones, author of Shelf Consumed! As a first year librarian finishing up School Librarian Certification through Texas Woman's University, I first heard of this wonderful idea from one of our mentor librarians, Stephanie Kinsella. Stephanie then offered up this idea at a monthly Elementary Librarian's meeting in our school district. Since then, I have been calling parents or tracking them down at school as they eat lunch with their children in the cafeteria, visit their child's classroom as a Mystery Reader, or pop into the library to either volunteer or check out books. I don't know whether the smiles, thank you responses, or even tears have been my favorite responses, but I do know that I am sometimes sharing the most positive words that parent might have heard in quite some time regarding their child. To know that I am making a positive difference in a parent's day (and a child's) is one of the reasons I love my job as a school librarian! Sincerely, Karen Littlejohn
P.S. I am looking forward to hearing you speak at Region 10 in Dallas in June! Leigh Ann highly recommended your session, and I immediately registered knowing that I will be learning many things to enhance my role as a school librarian.
Hi Karen,
Thanks so much for sharing your experience. Theories are find and dandy, but real people telling how something has worked is very powerful. I hope what you've written encourages others to send good news to parents as well.
Looking forward to Region 10. Hope I can live up to the recommendations!
Doug